Lukashenka confessed love for Syria and attacked Russia again

The Belarusian leader has met with Syria President Bashar al-Assad in Minsk today.

“Recently we have advanced considerably in the political, trade and economic spheres in our relations. But it is almost nothing if compared with what we can do today,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka is quoted by Belta.

He drew attention to the similarity of Belarus’ and Syria’s views on the world order and said he believes that the countries can do a lot today. “We are ready to do everything you may want in Syria,” the Belarusian ruler told his Syrian counterpart. He confirmed Belarus’ interest in expanding cooperation with Syria in many areas.

“You are our friends. We know how to build relations with friends and are ready to do everything you may want,” Lukashenka stressed.

The Belarusian ruler noted that he takes pleasure in recollecting his visits to Syria and meetings with Syria’s previous president Hafez al-Assad: “Hafez al-Assad was my first friend in the Muslim world and the East. I still remember the time I spent with him. I have fond memories about it because I received a true political lesson as a young politician back then.”

“I truly love your country although it differs a lot from my Belarus. It seemed to me that very kind and freedom-loving people live in Syria,” he said.

From an interview to Syrian newspaper “Al-Watan”

Russia is a natural, historical strategic partner of Belarus. Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that in an interview to Al-Watan newspaper.

As said by him, possibilities to further develop the cooperation with Russia should be increased after creation of the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. “[it is possible] If this union would work without limitations and exceptions, certainly,” Lukashenka stressed.

The leader of the state noted that “we see ambition of large Russian capital to get sweet spots of the Belarusian economy, which belong to our people”.

“It’s true, the long term of relations between Belarus and Russia, out limitless trust to honesty and devotedness of the partner resulted in our getting dependant on Russia in terms of resources. Until recently Russia was almost a monopolist supplier of hydrocarbons to us. Our partners started to use that, trying to impose their interests on Belarus. They used methods of economic blackmailing to achieve their political aims, used instruments of informational war. But any dictate is unacceptable. I hope Moscow would understand that,” Lukashenka said.